A/N: And yet another chapter! heehee.

Chapter 14- Crumbling

Edmund's POV

It had been 5 days since Susan left and nearly a week since Ella and I last talked to each other. I never even saw her anymore. Things were so strained between us that we never even went to bed together. I knew this was taking a huge toll on my marriage. I had to talk to Ella as soon as possible.

I didn't want to fight with Ella, honestly. I wanted us to be a happily married couple and not argue all the time. I loved her a lot and it was killing me that we were driving each other further and further away. I just wanted to put everything behind us. There was a part of my brain that told me Ella was not being loyal but I refused to listen to that part.

As I made my way to our bedroom, I noticed the door was already open. I walked in to find Ella in the deep red dress I had gotten her for her birthday a few months back. She was folding some clothesandher back was to me. A brilliant idea dawned on me. I quietly crept up behind Ella before grabbing her waist, spinning her around and planting my lips on hers.

She made a quiet squeal but soon wrapped her arms around my neck, drawing me in closer. As I held her waist, I couldn't help but feel this kiss was not like Ella's kiss. It was so foreign and disconnected and nothing like whenever we kissed.

I pulled away and opened my eyes to find, to my horror, Camilla looking up at me.

Ella's POV

I could not believe my eyes.

I was standing in the doorway of my bedroom, watching my husband kiss another woman.

I simply could not believe this was my Edmund. Yet, it clearly was. He was holding her and kissing her while I just stood there with tears in my eyes.

That was why Edmund was acting so distant towards me.

That was why he was becoming colder to me.

He was…

He was having an affair.

As he pulled away from Camilla, I couldn't help but let a sob escape. I felt so broken, but suddenly, this whole new emotion tugged at my heart as his hands still remained on her waist.

Rage.

Camilla noticed me by the door and her eyes widened in shock. Edmund turned around and once he saw me, he gave the same reaction.

"Ella, I…It's not what you think…" He stuttered, letting go of Camilla and walking towards me.

My eyes were fixed on him as I shook in rage, a few tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Ella, really…"

"Shut up, Camilla, and get out of my room." I snarled at Camilla before she could cover-up for Edmund.

To think I was actually nice to her! I invited her to my room to let her try on a few of my dresses for her date with Lorenzo later that night. I left for a second to give something to Lucy and returned to find her kissing my husband.

What guts!

Camilla flushed and looked mortified as ever. She glanced at Edmund for a brief second before running out of the room.

I just stood there, motionless as I stared at the man I once thought would never break my trust.

"How could you, Edmund?"

My voice shook with anger and my legs threatened to give way, but I refused to fall. I refused to appear weak before this betrayer.

"Ella, do you honestly think I kissed her on purpose?" He desperately exclaimed.

"Oh so your lips accidentally fell on her lips?" I sarcastically asked, folding my arms over my chest.

"I thought she was you. She was wearing your dress and her back was to me. Ella, really, you have to trust me."

"Trust you? How can I trust you when I just walked in on you kissing another woman! Wow Ed, I guess once a traitor always a traitor huh?" I snarled as I walked towards the bed to get the sheets.

I was not sleeping here tonight.

Before I could get past him however, he grabbed my arm and spun me around.

"Traitor? Looks who's talking. If anyone has done any deceiving here, it's you!" He shouted, his face turning red.

I pushed against his chest and shoved him away.

"What the hell are you talking about!"

"Oh don't act all innocent. I know you've been disloyal Ella. These past few weeks you've been acting all secretive and weird. I should have known you were having an affair when Camilla told me about you and that man in the library…"

"Oh so now just because your darling Camilla says something you believe her?" I yelled back.

He had the audacity to call me the cheater here?

"I didn't have to take her word for it. You were hiding things from me and I knew something was wrong. Tell me who the man is Ella. Who is it?" He shouted, coming closer to me.

"Edmund, there is no…"

"Was it Lorenzo?" He bitterly asked, continuing to step closer to me, causing me to start walking backwards.

"What?"

"I should have known when I saw the way he looked at you all those years back when you two first met." He spoke with venom in his voice.

Did he honestly think me and Lorenzo…together?

Lorenzo was like my brother!

"Edmund you're acting crazy!"

"Was it Caspian?" He snapped, continuing his advance on me as if I was the prey and he was a predator.

"Caspian? Are you…"

"I've seen the way you two whisper to each other. How you're always…touching him and all."

Ok, this was absolutely absurd.

"Ed, I…"

"Tell me, Ella!" He yelled, grabbing my arms tightly and pulling me to him. His eyes were so dark they appeared black and his face was as red as ever.

"Ed…"

"Tell me!" He yelled again, shaking me a bit.

"Ed, you're hurting me!" I cried as his vice-like grip on my arms tightened.

"No you're hurting me! What have I not done for you, Ella? Have I not loved you enough? Huh?" He exclaimed.

"Edmund stop it!" I sobbed, trying to push him away. Finally, he let me go and stepped back. I held the parts of my arms which he previously gripped as it swelled. I could not stop crying and when I looked up, Edmund was staring at me with a mixture of shock, horror and guilt.

"Ella…Ella I…"

"No Ed." I sobbed, shaking my head vigorously as he tried to step closer to me. I dashed past him and made my way to the door. But before exiting, I turned and looked at him, my heart and arms throbbing painfully.

"You don't have to worry about Camilla by the way. Your relationship with her is completely stable. But your marriage to me? Not so much."

With that, I stormed out of the room, wondering how our marriage had crumbled this much.

A/N: A pretty intense chapter. PLEASE REVIEW! I really wanna know your opinions!